Medieval Marvel – St. Canice’s Cathedral

St. Canice’s Cathedral was constructed during the early thirteenth century on a site that had long been regarded as sacred. The monastery that once stood there gives the wonderful medieval city of Kilkenny its name – ‘Cill Choinneach’ in the Gaelic translates as the ‘Church of Canice’. The cathedral is the second largest in Ireland: only St Patrick’s in Dublin is bigger. St Canice’s Cathedral is a priceless piece of Irish heritage, packed with innumerable pieces of invaluable evidence that give an insight into the tumultuous centuries it has witnessed. It’s closely associated with Bishop Legrede and Dame Alice Kyteler, and there is a wealth of fascinating history to uncover during a visit to this atmospheric place and the Round Tower situated close by.

Next to St. Canice’s Cathedral there is a superb example of a ninth-century Round Tower, one of the very few that visitors are still able to climb. The tower is the oldest structure (still standing) in Kilkenny City, and the views from the top are simply spectacular. This is the landscape that formed the background to the witchcraft accusations levelled at Dame Alice Kyteler by Bishop Legrede.

Looking out over the city towards Kilkenny Castle from the top of the Round Tower.

Legend of the Two Saints

The story goes that St Canice and St Columba were dear friends. One dark night, the ship St Columba was travelling on sailed into a terrible storm, and the lives of all on board hung in the balance. St Columba’s fellow monks implored him to pray for them, whereupon he serenely replied that there was no need as Canice would pray for them and all would be well. Meanwhile, in far-off Aghaboe, County Laois, Canice was suddenly compelled to rush to the nearby church to pray for his friend, leaving in such haste that he lost a shoe. As he prayed, the storm abated and all aboard were saved.

Steeped in the Mists of Time

In the year 1170, the Lord of Leinster, Diarmard MacMurrough, invited the Earl of Pembroke (known as ‘Strongbow’) to Ireland to advise him on how best to keep his enemies in check. The Earl quickly fell under the thrall of the country, as would many other Normans. They became obsessed with building towns packed with impressive buildings, which signified their intention to remain permanently. They took to building a lofty cathedral at one end of their towns and a mighty castle at the other. This was the blueprint followed here, where a great castle was built that dominated the ‘High Town’, while at the far end the beautiful Cathedral was constructed.

Construction

Built by Bevington & Sons of London for the Great Industrial Exhibition in Dublin in 1853 and purchased for the Cathedral in 1854 for £600. Restoration in 2006 cost €650,000. It is a concert standard organ with over 3,000 pipes.

There are no existing records that detail the construction of the cathedral, though it is thought that it was a two-stage process. A note from the sixteenth century indicates that the ‘first founder’ was the thirteenth-century luminary Bishop Hugh de Mapilton, who most likely built the crossing tower, transepts and choir. It is believed that the nave was the work of his near contemporary, Bishop Geoffrey de St Leger.

Dame Alice

In the year 1332, disaster struck when the central tower collapsed, an event inextricably linked with the infamous witchcraft trial where a newly arrived English bishop, Bishop Legrede, strove to have Dame Kyteler, her son and her maid Petronella tried for this heinous crime. While both Alice and Petronella were condemned to death, only poor Petronella was eventually burned at the stake. Alice fled, and her son William was ordered to repair the church roof as part of his penance. Though he did so, it was thought that the too-heavy re-leading he carried out contributed to the collapse of the tower, which, built on a far grander scale in those days, toppled on to the side chapels and choir, causing significant damage. Tongues wagged furiously – had William made it too weighty on purpose?

The Return of the Bishop

After all the controversy surrounding the Kyteler case, the bishop, well aware that he had fallen out of favour with both the king and the archbishop, had circumspectly taken himself off to the safety of the Papal Court, where he remained for the next twenty years. When he eventually returned, it was to a very different town – one that had been devastated by the Black Death. Still, the Bishop opted to carry out many repairs and improvements to his beloved cathedral, embellishing it with an astonishingly impressive stained glass East Window that depicted various scenes from Christ’s life. He also made the tower piers bigger, reduced the size of the tower and shored up a number of the supporting arches. Late in the fifteenth century, supportive vaulting was installed below the tower.

English Civil War

Cromwell captured the city during his ruthless campaign against Ireland, and in 1650 he and his men inflicted terrible damage on the cathedral. It stood roofless and abandoned for the next twelve years.

12th/13th century Baptismal Fonts – the left hand side one is from Inchiologhan Church (also known as Inchiholohan) now in the Cathedral, the font on the right is known as the Ossory Font. It was broken by Cromwell’s soldiers after their horses had finished drinking from it.

Renovations

Once the monarchy had been restored in 1660, it fell to one Bishop Williams to try to restore the building to its former glory, including re-roofing it. Later, in the 1750s, the repair mantle fell on the shoulders of the classically influenced Bishop Pococke, but by the 1840s the cathedral had yet again fallen into a sorry state.

Charles Vignoles

The current state of this glorious cathedral is due in large part to the efforts of Charles Vignoles. When he arrived in the 1840s as a Dean of the Cathedral, he was met by a building in a terrible state of repair and with jarring historical styles. Vignoles favoured the newly popular Gothic style, and he immediately set to work to restore the building, a process that was not without controversy. He found himself at odds with his incumbent bishop, Bishop O’Brien, and was forced to flee to France for a spell. However, on his return seven years later, he wasted no time in starting the restoration process that altered the cathedral into its present form. A great deal of the work was carried out by a local architect, Richard Langrishe. Their ambitious plans were finally achieved in 1900, when the choir stalls were installed. Sadly, Vignoles did not live to see his vision unveiled.

Gothic Glory

The cathedral benefited greatly from the talents of Vignoles and Langrishe. Their sensitive approach to the Gothic style prevented it from becoming overshadowed by its embellishments; instead, the revised design remained loyal to its medieval roots.

Key Features

Windows and Doors

The three beautiful sets of triple windows situated in the east end of the cathedral manage to be at once both elegantly simple and highly effective. The windows at the side have round heads – a fact worth highlighting, because Gothic style dictated that windows should have pointed ones. This could be an indication that this particular part of the building dates back to pre-Norman times; conversely, it could just have been a matter of proportion. The carved Romanesque door at the west end of the cathedral is particularly stunning.

The splendid Gothic Doorway which is situated at the west end of the Cathedral along with the Stained Glass Windows, the west end (middle image) and the east end, which was reinstated in 1875 having been destroyed by Cromwell in 1650 (right hand side image).

Tombstones

The cathedral is packed with innumerable tombstones, and there are several that date from the early fifteenth century and merit a special mention. A common theme in those days was the symbols of the passion, which could be represented in a myriad of ways. One notable tomb is decorated with a carving of a cockerel sitting on a pot. According to ancient legend, on the day of Jesus’ crucifixion, a bird being boiled for Judas’s dinner rose from the cooking pot and crowed. Judas, realising that the bird was foretelling the resurrection of Christ, immediately returned the 30 traitorous pieces of silver he had received to betray his friend and hanged himself.

High Society

Many of the tombs contain the remains of wealthy and powerful former residents of the city, with their status indicated by the fact that males are seen in full armour with their loyal dogs at their feet. Female tombs are decorated with elaborate examples of medieval dress.

Some of the tombs of the Butler Family with their elaborately carved almost lifelike effigies.

Craftsmen at Rest

Located nearby are three tombs containing craftsmen – each trade is carefully carved: cobbler, carpenter and weaver. During the Civil War, many of the tombs were defaced or overturned by Cromwell’s men, and though they were re-set in the nineteenth century, most of them are no longer in their original positions.

Barack Obama

One tomb has a fascinating link with the present day. Bishop John Kearney (who died in 1813 and whose remains were entombed at the west end of the cathedral) is a distant relative (great-great-great grand uncle) of no less a figure than American President Barack Obama.

The Grave of Bishop John Kearney, the great-great-great grand uncle of Barack Obama.

Alice’s Father

The Graveslab of Jose de Kyteller, the father of Dame Alice de Kyteller.

Another honourable mention must surely go to a highly polished grave marker located along the northern wall. Here is found a slab that is marked with the name ‘Jose de Keteller’, who died in the year 1280. It seems highly likely, despite the alternative spelling, that this is indeed the tomb of the father of the ‘witch’ Alice Kyteler.

St Kieran’s Chair

Visitors should also look out for the impressive stone chair of St Kieran, which sits embedded into the wall itself. Dating from the thirteenth century, it is said that the stone that lies beneath the seat itself was once part of the first bishop’s throne in Aghaboe (c. the year 400), though the sides date from the erection of the cathedral itself.

The thirteenth century St. Kieran’s Chair.

The Bishop

One the most prominent tombs on the site of St. Canice’s Cathedral and the Round Tower in Kilkenny belongs to our old friend Bishop Legrede – his name forever associated with Alice Kyteler and her doomed maid Petronella.

The Tomb of Bishop Richard Ledrede.

Visiting St. Canice’s Cathedral

St. Canice’s Cathedral, Kilkenny, is open all year round, although times vary according to the season. It is recommended that you arrive at least half an hour before closing to avoid being refused entry. Combination tickets are available – these cover entrance to the cathedral and the Round Tower. Please call ahead to arrange these for larger groups. Family tickets are also offered. Information leaflets written in 15 different languages are available as is a gift shop and toilets. Please note: Under-twelves are not permitted to climb the Tower, and access is dependent on the weather. There is not currently any parking at the cathedral. On-street parking is available on Dean Street, and there are a number of car parks in Kilkenny city centre. There is one disabled parking bay outside the cathedral gates on Coach Road.

Event Details

The 68th Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann will take place in Drogheda. This will be the first time in the history of the Fleadh that it is being held on the

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Event Details

The 68th Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann will take place in Drogheda. This will be the first time in the history of the Fleadh that it is being held on the north east coast of Ireland.

The annual Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann has grown over the years to be the largest and most unique cultural festival in the world. With attendance numbers in excess of 400,000 one can truly see its importance. Its significance is cultural, economic and social and it is a tribute to all those who kept the cultural traditions of Ireland alive down through the decades.

For a great many musicians, the Fleadh is the culmination of months of hard work and practice as they compete against fellow musicians, singers and dancers at local Fleadhanna so as to achieve the recognition of being an All-Ireland champion.

For others, the Fleadh is a unique and welcoming festival featuring the very best of traditional arts and offering a wide range of activities to be enjoyed by all.

This years Fleadh will have a significant emphasis on youth with children’s mid-morning sessions organised to run from Monday through to Thursday from 11.00 a.m. – 12.00 p.m. in the Barbican Centre. It will also offer an extensive youth programme which aims to increase student’s awareness of Irish culture and tradition and encourage them to become actively involved in the Fleadh.

Fiddles and bodhrans which were made by the Drogheda Men’s Shed and decorated by secondary school students in the town were on display at the launch and these will be displayed in various shops throughout the town during the Fleadh in August.

Families will be well catered for with lots of events at Seachtain na Gaeilge and the Mid Morning Sessions in the Barbican Centre which will be hosted by Sean O’Laoire, well known singer and Gaeilgeoir from Co. Meath.

Tickets are available to purchase for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2018 and the line-up of events, activities and performances, which will take place every day from Sunday 12th through to Sunday 19th August 2018, is available to view at www.fleadhcheoil.ie.

Event Details

The annual Féile Ceol na Locha Summer School in the Gaeltacht area of Tourmakeady, will take place this year from the 13th to the 17th of August. It is a music, culture and language school sponsored mainly by Údaras na Gaeltachta and An Comhairle Ealaíon, and is held at Coláiste Mhuire, with all tuition provided through the medium of Irish.

Now in its 20th year, the school provides training at beginners and intermediate level in the following subjects: button accordion, tin whistle, fiddle, harp, flute, bodhrán, guitar, concertina, sean-nós dancing, irish singing, art and conversational Irish. Most of the teachers are back year after year.

During the week there will be evening sessions in the local pubs where the tutors, students and locals will be playing.

Registration for the Classes/Workshops will commence in Coláiste Mhuire on at 9.30am on Monday. The Classes/Workshops then take place during the mornings between 10am and 1.30pm. The Summer School is open to all ages from 9 years of age, no upper limit.

For the 5 to 9 years age category, there is Óige Ceol na Locha. The activities include games, art, singing.

On the final day of the summer school the teachers and students will participate in a finale concert at Coláiste Mhuire. This concert provides a great opportunity for all the participants to play and dance together.

Then, early on Friday evening there will be a Barbeque for everyone. This will be held at Paddy’s Bar which is in the village.

Over the years, the school has taken on an international flavour, with participants coming from the UK, Europe and the USA.

As already mentioned, all tuition is through the medium of the Irish language.

For full details of the Summer School and to register for a place, please visit the Ceol na Locha website.

Event Details

Now in its 16th year, Masters of Tradition celebrates the best of Irish and International traditional music in its’ purest form through a series of concerts, talks and performances.
The performances

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Event Details

Now in its 16th year, Masters of Tradition celebrates the best of Irish and International traditional music in its’ purest form through a series of concerts, talks and performances.

The performances take place mainly in Bantry House, which is one of Ireland’s most exquisite historic mansions, and in other venues such as St Brendan’s Church.

The event provides a platform where subtle and sometimes obscure elements of Irish traditional music can be heard. By seeking the heart of the music we find a universal voice that has widespread appeal reaching across many cultural and musical barriers.

The festival is headlined by its Artistic Director, Martin Hayes, the fiddler from East Clare, whose distinctive touch and extravagant virtuosity has brought the tradition to new levels. His famous trance-evoking sets with Dennis Cahill have mesmerised audiences all over the world and will do so again this summer!

This year, Masters of Tradition is broadening its reach through two exciting new endeavours Ceolchoirm Rúnda (Secret Concerts) and Cainteanna (Talks).

The Secret Concerts will take place in unusual venues throughout the Bantry area. Admission to these concerts is free but booking is required. If you want to find out who is performing, you’ll just have to come along!

The Cainteanna (Talks) series includes discussions and chats exploring music,
creativity, tradition, philosophy, poetry and history with an occasional tune
or two for good measure. Details on each of these afternoon events are
included throughout the programme.

Also, during the festival impromptu sessions of extraordinary quality continue non-stop day and night on the streets and in the pubs.

Tickets are available to purchase for Masters of Tradition 2018 and the line-up of events, activities and performances, which will take place every day from Wednesday 22nd through to Sunday 26th August 2018, is available to view at www.westcorkmusic.ie/mastersoftradition/programme.

Event Details

The Crotty Galvin Traditional Music Weekend, is one of the most authentic and friendliest festivals you are likely to find. It is held at Garrihys Bar in Moyasta, near the

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Event Details

The Crotty Galvin Traditional Music Weekend, is one of the most authentic and friendliest festivals you are likely to find. It is held at Garrihys Bar in Moyasta, near the stunning Loop Head peninsula and named after three celebrated local musicians, Ellen ‘Nell’ Galvin, PJ Crotty and his brother Peadar Crotty.

Musicians, dancers, singers and storytellers are invited every year to perform for the weekend. This year marks its 16th year with it going from strength to strength each year. The weekend features a great line-up of sessions, ceilis, dancing and music classes.

On Saturday afternoon, there will be free music and dance workshops. These will be between 12 and 4pm and are always well attended. The Workshops/Classes will cover Tin Whistle, Concert Flute, Fiddle, Brush Dance and Séan Nós Dancing.

The Weekend kicks off on Friday night at 8pm with a Seisiún. Then at 9.30pm the weekend will be Officially Opened by Jesse McNamara. This will be followed by another Seisiún and a Ceilí with Dal Gcais Ceilí Band.

On Saturday there will be a visit to the green (weather permitting) with a short prayer and a few tunes and an afternoon Seisiún with the Ann Hayes Group in Garrihy’s which will include a host of very talented young musicians. At 5pm the evening Seisiún will begin and will continue well into the night.

Remember that all Musicians are welcome to join in the Siesiúns!

Sunday starts off with Mass in St Flannans Church, Lisdeen at 9.30am followed by a visit to Lisdeen Cemetery to the graves of Nell Galvin and Peadar Crotty.

An afternoon Seisiún will commence at 2pm and then between 7 and 10pm the Seisiún Mór/Ceilí with Shandrum Ceilí Band will be on full flow in the Front Bar and from 10 onwards Donie Nolan and friends will be in the Lounge for a Ceilí.

Event Details

This September sees the second Fingal Fleadh and Fair take place in Swords. The medieval grounds of Swords Castle and the Main Street in Swords Village will host a programme of

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Event Details

This September sees the second Fingal Fleadh and Fair take place in Swords. The medieval grounds of Swords Castle and the Main Street in Swords Village will host a programme of workshops and recitals.

This event celebrates the strong tradition of music in the Fingal community and will be centred around participation and performance with free Workshops and Concerts by some of the biggest names in traditional Irish music. It is geared very much for all the family with something for everyone to enjoy.

John Spillane will be returning again this year and performing his ‘Songs We Learned in School’ set which proved to be very popular last year.

Swords Castle will be the key venue for the event with free concerts featuring Lumiere, Kíla, Danú, The Whileaways, The Dixie Micks, John Spillane, The Mulcahy Family, Niamh Parsons and many more.

Also in the castle grounds there will be an Artisan Food, Drink & Craft Fair.

This year there will be a Street Seisiún Competition which will take over Swords on Saturday the 8th with the Main Street closed to traffic.

During the festival there will a ‘Session Trail’ around the town which will feature a mixture of performances and open sessions by musicians from all over the country.

The Fingal Fleadh is the perfect place to meet up with all of your friends for a few tunes and to enjoy a weekend of great music.

If you have any queries regarding the Fingal Fleadh & Fair, please email: [email protected]